Mississippi Valley State names Andre Payne new men's basketball coach

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State has announced Andre Payne as its new head basketball coach.

The announcement came Friday at a news conference on the Itta Bena campus.

Payne replaces former coach Chico Potts, who was reassigned before MVSU's last regular season game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on March 8. The Delta Devils finished the 2013-14 season 9-23, 5-13 Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Payne is coming off an eight-year stint as head coach and associate athletic director at Wiley College in Texas. This past season, he guided the Wildcats to their second Red River Athletic Conference tournament title and an NAIA Tournament appearance.

The Auburn, Alabama native is familiar with the SWAC, having attended Alabama A&M for his undergraduate years. He also coached at Texas College in Tyler.